CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
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Author : Bonsal, B.R.; Pietroniro, A. ; and Prowse, T.D.
Date : 2001.
Title : The ability of various GCMs to simulate current climate over the Western Cordillera of Canada.
Publication : Annual Scientific Meeting of the Canadian Geophysical Union. May 14-17, 2001, University of Ottawa, Ottawa.
Issue :
Page(s) :
Abstract
One criteria commonly used in selecting a GCM to be used in constructing regional hydrological and climatological impacts of future climate change is the performance of the GCM in simulating the present day climate of the region. This investigation evaluates the ability of several different GCMs to simulate current temperature and precipitation over the western Cordillera region of Canada (including the Peace-Athabasca Delta). Models used in the assessment include the CSIRO (Australia), ECHAM (Germany), Hadley Centre (UK), CGCM1 (Canada), NCAR (USA), and GFDL (USA). Using the baseline period of 1961-90, differences between modelled and observed temperature and precipitation are mapped on a monthly basis. Observed data consists of both individual station 30-year normals, as well as, various gridded data sets available over the study area. The significance of the relationships at various spatial scales is also discussed. This work provides an initial assessment required for a larger project that examines potential future changes to various hydrological processes including runoff regimes, ice-jam floods, and extreme events. Outputs from the best model and/or models will then be used to initialize other smaller scale runoff and ice-jam flood models to anticipate changes to these processes in a warmer world.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology